Slain pedestrian's family asks for improvements

RTA member, son-in-law had heated exchange

What was supposed to be a three-minute public comment Wednesday turned into a heated 15-minute discussion between the family of Francisco "Panchito" Fregoso and board members of the Regional Transportation Authority.

Juan Araiza III, Fregoso's son-in-law, addressed the 11-member board asking that it collaborate with the city of Corpus Christi to enhance pedestrian safety along Port Avenue and Greenwood Drive. Fregoso was killed on Oct. 10 while crossing Port Avenue as he headed home toward LULAC Hacienda Apartments. Fregoso had been an advocate for pedestrian safety in that area.

Araiza just had begun to speak when board member Mike Rendon said there were always two sides of the story and Araiza's was one of them. The speaker's voice broke as he addressed Rendon.

"(Corpus Christi Councilman Mike) Hummell made the same comments before I gave public comments before the council and now Mr. Rendon has done the same," Araiza said. "I don't appreciate the attitude."

He and Rendon went back and forth for the next several minutes as Araiza told his father-in-law's story.

Araiza said the bus stop in front of the apartment on Greenwood Drive was removed in 2006 and Fregoso advocated replacing it. Fregoso had several meetings with RTA staff and, although they assured something would be done, they were nonresponsive, Araiza added.

Board Chairwoman Crystal Lyons had to use the seldomly used gavel to interrupt Araiza, who continued to talk when asked to stop.

"We've allotted you more than enough time," Lyons said. "And it's not attitude. We will definitely look into it and get a full report from RTA staff and the general manager."

After the meeting, Araiza said he felt the board might think his family is looking to sue the RTA, which he says the family is not interested in doing.

"I just want the RTA to work in conjunction with the city to get more light and a street light put where the Port (Avenue) bus stops are," he said after the meeting. "We need speed bumps at the very least and maybe a lighted crosswalk like they have in front of the (Nueces County) Courthouse. We want to avoid another preventable death."

Araiza's appearance before City Council is yielding results. A memo to Angel Escobar, the city's interim city manager, from the city traffic engineer states the engineering department and AEP Texas will recommend improvements in the Port Avenue and Greenwood Drive area.

Charlie Cardenas, the city's traffic engineer, said his department will recommend the changes to the City Council later this month, but some of them don't require council approval.

"Enhancing the crosswalks is something we've begun working on already," Cardenas said. "Things such as the widening of sidewalks require council approval and the bus route changes would require approval from the RTA."